Apparatus for making caps for typewriter keys and the like



April 1927' o. 1.. EASTERLIN APPARATUS FOR MAKING CAPS FOR TYPEWRITERKEYS AND THE LIKE Filed March 16, 1925 INVENTOR state.

Patented Apr. 12 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DOUGLAS L. EASTEBLIN,

COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A COPARTNERSHIP COMPOSED OF DOUGLAS L.

EASTEBLIN AND ADA L. EASTERLIN.

"arrana'rus ron MAKING cars FOR 'ryrnwnrrnn KEYS AND min 1.11m.

Application filed March This invention relates to the art ofmanufacturin caps' for ty ewriter keys and the like, and apparatus orsuch manufacture.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a practical andeffective method of manufacturing articles of the above nature which isproductive of highly satisfactory result and may conveniently be carriedon with inexpensive apparatus. Another object is to provide apparatusfor such manufacture which is practical and highly efficient. Anotherobject is to provide such apparatus whereby articles of the above naturemay be rapidly turned out 'in a completed Another object is to rovideapparatus of such naturewhich 1s strong and rugged, capable ofdependable service and wherein the parts are readily accessible forrepair or replacement. Other objects will be in part obvious or in partpointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,ments, arrangements of parts and in the several steps and relation andorder of each of the same to one or more of the others all as will beillustratively described herein, and the scope of the application ofwhich will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing, in which is shown one of the variouspossible embodiments of the mechanical features of this invention,

Figure 1 is a vertical section through a pair of die supporting members;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 in larger detail showing a part ofthe die in action;

Figure 3 is abottom plan view of one of the dies partly cut away;

Figure 4 shows a piece of scrap resulting from the process;

Figure 5 shows in perspective a completed article, and

Figure 6 shows the article in side elevation partly cut away.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views of the drawing.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, there is shown an upper diesupporting member 10 taking the form of a metal plate having therein alarge number of spaced combinations of ele- 18, 1925. Serial No. 15,917.

openings 11 which are referably cylindrical in form. In each of thesespaced openings 11 1s carried a die member 12, which die members havecylindrical outer walls adapted to mate with and fit tightly in therecesses 11. The die members 12 preferably have a substantial drivingfit in their respective recesses 11 so that they are securely heldtherein against axial movement but may be removed independently of eachother in case repair or replacement should be required.

Below the die supporting member 10 is shown a second die supportingmember 13 which also preferably takes the form of a plate having thereina large number of cylindrical openings 14. The die supporting member 13has a cylindrical opening 14 registering with each of the openings 11 inthe opposite die supporting member 10. The corresponding openings 1n thetwo plates are, for the purpose of economical utilization of space,preferably staggered as is evidenced by reference to Figure 4 whereinthere is shown a piece of scrap resulting from the action of these dies.In each of the openings 14 of the plate 13 is fitted a die member 15,which die members are provided with cylindrical outer walls closelyfitting the walls of the openings 14 in which they are received. Thesedie members 15 preferably have. substantially a driving fit in theirrespective openings 14 so that they are firmly supported therein againstdisplacement, but are yet independently removable and replaceable. Y

Each of the die members 12 is provided at its lower face with a circularrecess 16 substantially centrally disposed therein. These recesses 16are provided with undercut side walls, that is, the diameter of theserecesses at the mouth is smaller than the diameter at the bases of therecesses. Preferably the walls of the recesses 16 are undercut rathersharply a short distance from the surface of the die members, asindicated at 16*, this undercut being at a slight angle with the outersurface of the dies. From the points 16 to the bases of the recesses thediameters thereof are substantially constant.

The bases of the recesses 16 are provided with cylindrical projections17 extendingoutwardly toward the mouths of the recesses OF NEW YORK, N.Y., ASSIGNOB TO LINCOLN RUBBER KEY members 12 are first Thereafter thepins cutting 16 and preferably substantially to a level with the annularsurface 12* of the die members about the recesses. These projectingparts 17 are preferably made separate from the die members 12. They takethe form of cylindrical pins which are inserted and tightly fitted incylindrical openings passing centrally through the die members. hesepins 17 may'thus be removed from the die members 12 for repair orreplacement if desired. This construction whereby the parts 17 are madeseparate from the main portions of the die members 12 is of distinctadvantage in manufacture. The die formed with a cylindrlcal openingtherethrough adapted to receive the pins 17. Thereupon the recesses 16may conveniently be machined out. 17 are fitted into place. It will beseen that it would be impracticable to machine the recesses 16 were itattempted to make the projections 17 integral with the remainder of thedie members 12. Preferably the surfaces 12 of the die members 12 aresubstantially flush with the lower surface of the supporting member 10.

Referring now to the die members 15 carried in the lower supportingmember 13, each of these die members is provided with a centrallypositioned and substantiallycin cular recess 18. The side walls of therecesses 18 are preferably tapered inwardly slightly, as shown, and thebases 18. thereof are preferably rounded upwardly. the recesses 18, theouter walls of members 15 are tapered inwardly providing annular cuttingedges 15 about the recesses 18. These tapered-portions of the diemembers 15 of the supporting member 13 so that the edges 15 are spacedupwardly therefrom. These annular cutting edges 15 are adapted to coactwith the flat annular surfaces 12 of the corresponding upper die members12. The mouths of the recesses 18 are of greater "diameter than themouths of the recesses 16, being of substantially the same diameter asthe inner and larger diameter of the recesses 16 adjacent the basesthereof.

Taking up now the process of manufacturing caps for typwriter keys andthe like by means of these die members, it is first pointed out thatthese caps are preferably made of rubber. From a sheet ofgum rubber ofabout a quarter of an inch thickness or thereabout are punched out, bymeans of a suitable punch press, circular or cylindrical blanks 19(Fig. 1) of substantially the diameter of the recesses 18. One of theseblanks 19 is now placed in each of the recesses 18 in the die members 15as is shown in Figure 1. Thereupon the'two die supporting members 10 and13 are forced tothe dies 15 project upwardly from the surfacegether andsecurely clamped. This results in a flowing of the rubber of the blanks19 so that all of the space between the die S111- porting members 12 and13 is filled, including the recesses 16 and 18 into which the rubber istightly compressed. With the rub ber thus held under compression, theentire mold comprising bers 10 and 13 and the is subjected to heat, andthe rubber cured. When the curing process is completed the two diesupporting members are separated.

The rubber thus forced under compression into the recesses 16 and 18forms completed rubber caps of the form shown in Figures 5 and 6. Thecutting edges 15 of coacting with the surfaces 12 of the dies 12 cutthrough the rubber, as is shown in Figure 2, so that no fringe is leftconnected to the rubber caps, and when the die members are separated thecompleted. condition without trimming. When the dies are completed capsare held in the recesses 16 by the undercut walls 16 thereof, the parts20 of the caps being within the recesses 16 and the parts 21, formed bythe recesses 18, projecting therefrom. The completed rubber caps may nowbe removed from the die members 12 by simply snapping them out of therecesses 16, and the caps are ready for use. The rubber from the blanks18 which overflows from the recesses of the die members, and which iscut off by the cutting edges 15, forms a scrap 22 shown in Figure 4.

By means of the process and apparatus de.:cribed herein, it will be seenthat a highly satisfactory and well made cap turned out in large numberswith the greatest speed, and with a minimum of labor. and expense. Theundercut portions 23 of the cap aredependably and accurately formed heportion 16 of the die members 12. The hollow base 24 of the cap formedby the pins 17 lends a cushioning effect to the cap which is highlydesirable in use. The concave upper surface formed by the surfaces 18 ofthe die member; 15 form a most satisfactory striking surface for thekeys of the typewriter or other machine. The die supporting plates 10and 13 may contain a large number of dies 12 and 15, and each of thesedies is separately removable and replaeeable as desired.

From the above it will be seen that there is herein provided an artrequiring any invention, and as the art herein described might be variedin va ious parts, all withcaps are in separated the i outdcparting fromthe scope of the invention, it is to be understood that all matterherein set forth or shown in. the accompanying drawings is to beinterpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim as my invention:

1. In appa 'atus for making caps for typewriter keys and the like, incombination, a die member having therein a recess provided with undercutside walls, and a second die member movable relative to said first diemember and having a recess substantially coaxial with said first recess,the mouth of said second recess being of greater diameter than the mouthof said first recess and said die members having coacting parts about:aid recesses.

2. In apparatus for making caps for typewriter keysand the like, incombination, a die member having therein a recess provided with undercutside walls, and a second die member movable relative to said first diemember and having a recess substantially coaxial with said first recesthe mouth of said second recess being of greater diameter than the mouthof said first recess and one of said die members having about the recesstherein a cutting edge adapted to coact with the surface of said otherdie member about said recess therein.

3. In apparatus formaking caps for typewriter keys and the like, incombination, a die member having therein a recess provided with undercutside walls, and a second die mrmber movable relative to said first diemember and having a recess substantially coaxial with said first recess,the mouth of said second recess being of greater diameter than the mouthof said first recess and said second die member having about said recesstherein a cutting edge adapted to coact with the surface of said firstdie member about said recess therein.

4. In apparatus for making caps for typewriter keys and the like, incombination, a die member having therein a recess provided with undercutside walls, and a second die member movable relative to said first diemember and having a recess substantially coaxial with saidfirst recess,the mouth of said second recess being of greater diameter than the mouthof said first recess, said first die member having a flat surface aboutsaid recess therein and said second die member having about said recesstherein a cutting edge adapted to coact with said flat surface of saidfirst die member.

5. In apparatus for making caps for typewriter keys and the like, incombination, a die member having therein a recess provided with undercutside walls, the base of said recess having a .projection extendingoutwardly toward the mouth thereof, and a second die member movablerelative to said first die member and having a recess substantiallycoaxial with said first recess, the mouth of said second recess being ofgreater diameter than the mouth of said first recess and said diemembers having coacting parts about said recesses.

In apparatus for making caps for typewriter keys and the like, incondiination, a die member having therein a recess provided withundercut side walls, the base of said recess having a projectionextending outwardly toward the mouth thereof, said projection beingformed by a member separate from said die member and secured thereto,and a second die member movable relative to said first die member andhaving a recess substantially coaxial with said first rece s, the mouthof said second recess being of greater than the mouth of said firstrecess and said die members having coacting parts about said recesses.

7 In apparatus for making caps for typewriter keys and the like, incombination, a

die member having therein a recess and an opening of reduced diameterextending in- Wardly from said recess, a member secured in said openingand projecting outwardly toward the mouth of said recess, and a seconddie member movable relative to said first die member and having a recesssubstantially coaxial with said first recess, the mouth of said secondrecess being of greater diameter than the mouth of said first recess.

8. In apparatus for making caps for typewriter keys and the like, incombination, a supporting member having therein a plurality of spacedopenings, a plurality of the members removably secured in said spacedopenings, each of said die members. having formed therein a recess, asecond supporting member movable relative to said first supportingmember and having therein a plurality of spaced openings substantiallyregistering with said openings in said first supporting member, and aplurality of die membcrs removably secured in said openings of saidsecond supporting member, each having a recess substantially coaxialwith said recess of the corresponding die member in said firstsupporting member.

9. In apparatus for making caps for typewriter keys and the like, incombination, a supporting member having therein a plurality of spacedopenings, a plurality of die members rem-ovably secured in said spacedopenings, each of said die members having formed therein a recessprovided with undercut walls, and a member movable relative to saidfirst supporting means having in its surface a plurality of recessessubstantially registering with said recesses in said plurality of dies,the mouths of said last recesses being of greater diameter than themouths of said second recesses and the surfaces about correspondingrecesses being adapted to coact.

10. In apparatus for making caps fortypewriter keys and the like, incombination, a supporting member having therein a plurality of spacedopenings, a plurality of die members removably secured in said spacedopenings, each of said die members having formed therein a recessprovided with undercut walls, and a member movable relative to saidfirst supporting means having in its surface a plurality of recessessubstantially reg-, istering with said recesses in said plurality ofdies, the mouths of said last recesses being of greater diameter thanthe mouths of said second recesses and said last member having abouteach of said recesses therein a cutting e o adapted to coact with thesurfaces of said die members about said first recesses.

11. In apparatus for making caps for typewriter keys and the like, incombination, a supporting-member having therein a plurality of openings,a plurality of die members removably secured in said openings eachprovided with a recess having undercut walls and the surface of eachbeing substantially flush with the surface of said supporting member, asecond supporting member movable relative to said first supportingmember and having therein a plurality of openings respectivelysubstantially registering with said openings in said first supportingmember, and a plurality of die members removably secured in said lastopenings each having therein a recess and a cutting edge thereabout,said cutting edge projecting above the surface of said second supportingmember and being adapted to coact with the surface of the correspondingdie member in said first supporting member about the recess therein.

12. In apparatus for making caps for typewriter keys and the like, incombination, a supporting member having therein a plurality of spacedopenings, a plurality of die members removably secured in said spacedopenings, each of said die members having formed therein a recessprovided with undercut walls, and the bases of said recesses havingprojections extending outwardly toward the mouths thereof, and a membermovable relative to said first supporting member having in its surface aplurality of recesses substantially registering with said recesses insaid plurality of dies, the mouths of said last recesses being ofgreater diameter than the mouths of said second recesses and thesurfaces about corresponding recesses being adapted to coact.

13. In apparatus for making caps for typewriter keys and the like, incombination, a supporting member having therein a plurality of openings,a plurality of die members removably secured in said openings eachprovided with a recess having undercut walls and the surface of eachbeing substantiallyflush with the surface of said supporting member,each of said recesses having a proection therein extending from 1ts baseoutwardl to a point adjacent the mouth therei of an of smaller diameterthan said mouth, a second supporting member movable relative to saifirst'supporting member and having therein a lurality of openingsrespectively substantially registering with said openings in said firstsupporting member, and a plurality of die members removably secured insaid last openings each having therein a recess and a cutting edgethereabout, said cutting edge projecting above the surface of saidsecond supporting member and being adapted to coact with the surface ofthe corresponding die member in said first supporting member about therecess therein.

14. In apparatus for making caps for typewriter keys and the like, incombination, a die member having therein a recess, the base of saidrecess having a projection extending outwardly toward the mouth thereofand a second die member movable relative to said first die member, andhaving a recess substantially coaxial with said first recess, one ofsaid die members having about the recess therein a cutting edgeprojecting toward the other die member adapted to trim off materialsqueezed from said recesses when said die members are brought together.

15. In apparatus for making caps for typewriter keys and the like, incombination, a die member having a recess and an opening of reduceddiameter extending inwardly from said recess, a member secured in saidopening and projecting outwardly toward the mouth of said recess, anda'second die member movable to said first die member and having a recesssubstantially coaxial with said first recess, one of said die membershaving about the recess therein a cutting edge projecting toward theother die member adapted to trim ofl material squeezed from saidrecesses when said die members are brought together.

16. In apparatus for making caps for typewriter keys and the like, incombination, a die member having therein a recess, means about saidrecess overhanging and reducing the mouth thereof to a diameter belowthat of the body of said recess, and a second die member movablerelative to said first die member and having therein a recesssubstantially coaxial with said first recess, said second die memberhaving about the recess therein a cutting edge adapted to coact with theouter surface of said overhanging means.

17. In apparatus for making caps for typewriter keys and the like, incombination, a die member having therein a recess, the base of saidrecess having a projection extending outwardly toward the mouth thereof,means about said recess overhanging and reducing the mouth thereof to adiameter below that of the body of said recess, and a second die membermovable relative to said first die member and having therein a recesssubstantially coaxial with said first recess, said second die member Intestimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 10thday of March, 1925.

DOUGLAS L. EASTERLIN.

